Fantasy Football is BACK folks. I can’t wait for Sunday and the chance to throw dozens of lineups into DraftKings testing my luck of winning millions. We’ve had plenty of preseason work to analyze and use to our advantage in making these lineups so get ready, buckle up, and enjoy the ride because we’re blazing into 2019 Week 1.

Quarterbacks:

Patrick Mahomes ($7,200)

This looks like a great week to spend up at QB and grab the 2018 NFL MVP in Mahomes. There are so many cheap RBs to select from this week where you can be flexible and then turn around and unload with the Chiefs offense.

Cam Newton ($6,500)

His foot does not appear to be an issue anymore. Newton and the Panthers have to take on NFC champion LA Rams this week in one of the higher totaled games on the slate. His shoulder is fixed, his weapons/receivers are better, and he’s still a running threat especially at the goal line.

The $5,700-$5,300 range

To be completely honest I love pretty much everyone in this range here. Carson Wentz in a big home favorite matchup against the Redskins. Kyler Murray making his career debut in the Air Raid offense at home against Detroit. Matthew Stafford as Murray’s opposition in Arizona, facing a Cardinals’ secondary that’s so banged up it’s on par with a JV football squad. Then Nick Foles in his Jaguars debut having to play as an underdog (he’s been pretty good in that role) against the Chiefs in a very nice pass heavy/catch-up game script.

Running Backs:

The Panthers workhorse is sure to be out there for 90+% of the team’s snaps facing the Rams. The game has a super high point total and CMC will need to do everything he can to help Carolina get the win. There’s a bunch of receptions for him on the horizon in this one.

Nick Chubb ($6,400)

This salary was set before the trade of Duke Johnson and release of Carlos Hyde. Now Chubb is alone in the backfield with Kareem Hunt suspended as a sizable favorite facing the Titans. Very positive game script here for a workhorse back whose salary will probably be at its lowest point the entire year.

Dalvin Cook ($6,000)

Cook was someone that was brought up in the Initial Thoughts piece when the Week 1 contest opened up. He’s looked great in preseason and the new Vikings offense appears to run through Cook. A home run hitting RB, and we all remember the Falcons struggle to defend RBs in the passing game.

Chris Carson ($5,700)

He continues to be the lead dog of the Seahawks run heaviest offense. Seattle is a big favorite at home against the Bengals in a very positive game script. The passing game is also struggling with all the injuries to Seahawks receivers, meaning the team should lean more on Carson’s legs in Week 1.

Matt Breida ($4,000)

The 49ers released their depth chart on Tuesday and they had Breida as their starting RB over Tevin Coleman. Sure, some pimply faced 49ers intern could have thrown this depth chart together for the website, but it’s still something to note. Breida outperformed Coleman in the preseason and might even be the more talented back — he just needs to stay healthy. We’ve told you for a week or two now that Breida is the 49ers RB to own based on his ADP and he has a very favorable matchup this week against the horrific Bucs’ defense. This seems like stealing at the 4k price tag.

Wide Receivers:

Julio Jones ($8,000)

The mighty have fallen in respect to Vikings corner Xavier Rhodes. Those “#RhodesClosed” are now #Open as the corner has seen his play deteriorate rapidly. Atlanta is playing as a road dog and I have very high hopes for the offense this year. Jones is also due for some touchdown progression after Calvin Ridley seemingly caught every touchdown for Atlanta last year.

Kenny Golladay ($6,300)

Seemingly going under the radar it feels like these days, Golladay finds himself in such a sweet Week 1 spot in Arizona. As we touched on for Stafford, the Cardinals secondary is extremely depleted and will be playing Week 1 with several backups and nobodies. Golladay should be able to capitalize here, using his great size to deep play threat for Stafford’s big arm.

Tyler Lockett ($6,000)

2018 was an extremely efficient year for Lockett who helped Russell Wilson post a perfect passer rating when he was targeted. Lockett now moves up to WR1 with Doug Baldwin’s retirement, and the rest of the receiving core are a bunch of scrubs while DK Metcalf has sat out the majority of camp with a knee injury. Seattle should have control of this game while peppering Lockett with targets.

Dede Westbrook ($4,800)

He appears to be the WR1 for Nick Foles’ debut season in Jacksonville. Westbrook is very talented, and the Chiefs defense in 2018 wasn’t exactly anything to write home about. We know Kansas City can score, meaning the Jags will have to score and throw to keep up. Westbrook has seen a lot of Foles’ targets in their limited preseason time, there’s solid value here.

Curtis Samuel ($4,200)

Everyone seems to love Samuel this preseason saying he looks like a completely new guy out there on the field. His QB’s shoulder is apparently fixed now and the former Buckeye is ready to break out in a huge game against the Rams. With Samuel and DJ Moore getting tons of love, I’d be glad to save $1,300 in choosing Samuel for my roster.

Tight Ends:

Travis Kelce ($7,100)

Similar to Mahomes, you can spend up on Chiefs studs with all the cheap options available at the skill positions. He’s a target hog in the league’s best offense and simply just gets it done week in and week out. You’ll have an advantage at the TE spot over everyone else who chooses not to roster him.

Evan Engram ($4,800)

The suspension to Golden Tate will help here as Engram becomes one of the target leaders for the Giants. He’s super talented at the TE position on a team that lacks playmakers aside from their elite RB. New York figures to pass a lot playing catchup to the Cowboys so Engram should see a healthy number of targets.

Hunter Henry ($3,900)

After a missed season recovering from ACL surgery, Henry steps into the Chargers offense and Antonio Gates’ old TE spot. Gates is gone now, and Melvin Gordon appears to be holding out for Week 1 leaving few weapons in the offense. Rivers has always loved his TEs, and Henry’s low price looks solid against a team that gave up a lot of points to TEs in 2018.

Defense

Eagles D/ST ($3,500)

A divisional rival might cause some hesitation, but Case Keenum is under center for Week 1 and the Redskins have by far the worst group of pass catchers in the NFL. Add in Trent Williams (Redskins LT) holding out which leaves newly signed Donald Penn to start at LT next to the human turnstile Ereck Flowers at LG. I like the Eagles to put the clamps down on this one.

Lions D/ST ($2,900)

If you don’t believe in Kyler Murray and the Air Raid offense, this pick could be for you. It also helps that the Cardinals offensive line is piss poor and could lead to many sacks for the Lions. Even rushed throws could lead to some interceptions or desired pick-sixes.

Buccaneers D/ST ($2,200)

If you’re looking to punt at the position then Tampa Bay could be a decent play this week. Jimmy Garoppolo has not looked great in his preseason action thus far coming back from his ACL injury. The 49ers receivers also seem to be sub-par at the moment (excluding George Kittle) not posing too much of a threat aerial wise.

Do you have any early leans? Questions about which guy you should go with this week? Want to yell at me for missing an obvious play? Sound off below or hit me up on Twitter where you can follow for daily news or advice on players.

Bottom Line: Pass-catching specialist, who? Christian McCaffrey returned to his college workhorse roots under new OC Norv Turner, and quickly put up Fantasy MVP-worthy numbers. He continued to flash his otherworldly receiving abilities, hauling in an NFL record 106 catches for 875 yards and 6 TDs. Yet where the usage really rose was the carries, as McCaffrey nearly doubled his 2017 total for 215 carries, 1080 yards, and 7 scores. These 321 total touches ranked third behind only Ezekiel Elliott and Saquon Barkley, and this newfound volume created the ultimate ceiling / floor combination. In the process, McCaffrey flashed both the elusiveness, breakaway ability, and most shockingly underrated power to redefine the workhorse model.

​New OC Norv Turner deserves immense credit for this outburst. His previous work with LaDanian Tomlinson proved he wasn't afraid to ride a smaller-back, as he's able to scheme his guys in space and in creative outside gaps versus just blasting them up the gut... but even still, never before had an NFL back played nearly 97% of the team's snaps. Yes, this number inevitably will fall in 2019, but McCaffrey should still hover around 85-90%, especially with Turner returning. Expect a similar buffet of weekly volume with the upside for even more efficiency should the Panthers beef up their line while their explosive young wideouts take a next step forward.

Ceiling Projection: 320 touches (100 rec.), 2,000 Tot. Yds, 13 TDs

Floor Projection*: 270 touches (70 rec.), 1600 Tot. Yds, 7 TDs

Actual Projection: 310 touches (90 rec), 1900 Tot. Yds, 12 TDs

*Note - Floors are done without injuries in mind. Of course the lowest floor is torn ACL first play of scrimmage. This assumes 16 games

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About JimboSlice

THE Inaugural 2016 RSJ Fantasy Football League Champion. Owner of a #bigbrain, and lover of football, baseball and college hoops. When not grinding for the RSJ, can be found captaining his beer league softball team.